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Urbana SD 116 reports drop in bus referrals, outlines routing changes ahead of Sixth Grade Center opening
Summary
District administrators reported declines in bus-related referrals and described route adjustments (adding a green bus, splitting runs) and coordination with MTD and First Student. First Student referrals dropped from 505 to 228 (Aug'Jan comparison), a district presenter said.
District administrators and transportation partners told the Urbana School District 116 board that bus behavior referrals are down and that routing and staffing adjustments are planned ahead of expanded ridership at the Sixth Grade Center.
MaryAnn, the administrator presenting the transportation overview, introduced Jay from MTD and described contract timelines: First Student operates under a three-year contract that will be rebid in February 2027; MTD operates under an annual contract. MaryAnn reviewed incident tracking categories (fights, incidents, transport-student events) and the district's process for requesting video and school administrators handling discipline using the district's student Behavior response Continuum.
Staff reported operational counts and behavior trends: staffing shifted from 38 drivers to 36, routes increased slightly from 33 to 34, and First Student reported referrals dropped from 505 (Aug. 2023'Jan. 2024) to 228 for the same span this year, which staff characterized as about a 55% reduction. "We're seeing about a 55% referral reduction," MaryAnn said. Staff also reported a localized 99% referral reduction at Yankee Ridge, while another school saw a small increase.
Officials emphasized the district's coordination with MTD and First Student, the value of sending one-page route maps to families, and planned changes to handle Sixth Grade Center ridership: a learn-to-ride program and an orientation on March 6; adding a 'green' bus to reduce load on a route and splitting the orange and gold runs to lower per-bus ridership.
Board members asked about the number of students assigned to buses in Skyward; staff cited a Skyward figure of about 2,527 assigned riders but noted it is difficult to distinguish between MTD and First Student assignments in the data and volunteers would verify the precise count.
No formal action was taken; staff said they will continue coordination with transportation partners, provide route materials to families at registration, and monitor incidents and driver staffing.
